aloofness

/əˈluːfnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈluːfnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈlüf-nəs/ (ame, mw)

aloofness — noun

1. the way of acting that keeps a person emotionally separated from others, making

1.名詞C1
釋義

the way of acting that keeps a person emotionally separated from others, making them seem unfriendly, cold, or hard to get close to.

例句

Tariq's aloofness at the office party made her new colleagues feel unwelcome.

possessive + aloofness as subject

Everyone in the village admired Dr. Bram, but his aloofness kept friendships shallow.

aloofness as cause of social effect

同義詞
  • standoffishness

    more informal; suggests deliberate cold-shoulder behaviour

  • reserve

    neutral or positive; quiet self-control rather than coldness

  • remoteness

    stronger image of unreachable emotional distance

  • coldness

    harsher; implies actively unkind feeling, not just distance

反義詞

文法句型

someone's aloofness

aloofness toward someone

用法筆記

Subject is usually a person (or their behaviour), and the noun is uncountable. Often paired with possessives ('her aloofness', 'his aloofness') and the preposition 'toward'. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about social warmth, not principled non-involvement.

常見錯誤

❌She has many aloofnesses.
✅She has a certain aloofness.
💡the noun is uncountable; do not pluralise.
❌His aloofness with the topic confused us.
✅His aloofness toward strangers confused us.
💡use 'toward' (or 'from') with people, not 'with' + a topic.

2. the choice to stay apart from an activity, group, or issue, often because you di

2.名詞C1
釋義

the choice to stay apart from an activity, group, or issue, often because you disagree with it or do not want to be linked to it.

例句

The judge's aloofness from local politics protects her reputation for fairness.

aloofness from + abstract domain

Switzerland's traditional aloofness from foreign wars shaped its modern identity.

country's aloofness from + conflict

同義詞
  • detachment

    neutral; implies calm distance, not necessarily disapproval

  • non-involvement

    plain factual term; lacks the cool tone of 'aloofness'

  • neutrality

    specifically political; refusing to take sides

  • disengagement

    process of pulling back from something you were once part of

反義詞

文法句型

aloofness from something

用法筆記

Almost always followed by 'from' + the activity, group, or issue being avoided. Subject is often an institution, public figure, or country. Distinguish from sense 1: this aloofness is principled or strategic, not emotional coldness.

常見錯誤

❌His aloofness about the scandal annoyed reporters.
✅His aloofness from the scandal annoyed reporters.
💡use 'from' with the topic or event, not 'about'.
❌She showed aloofness to vote.
✅She refused to vote, showing her aloofness from party politics.
💡aloofness is a stance, not an action; pair it with a noun phrase, not a to-infinitive.